Abstract: Devices having a long-range imaging engine formed of two cameras having different resolution are disclosed herein. An example imaging engine includes a front-end, with the cameras, terminated in a communication interface for coupling to an external host processor that performs image processor. The front-end has a near field image sensor and a far field image sensor, and a normalization processor to receive the respective image data from the sensors and normalize that image data prior to sending to the host processor. Normalization includes adjusting an image size, aspect ratio, or pixel count complying with data rate constraints imposed by the communication interface or the host processor.

Abstract: A method for correcting focus drift of an imaging system. The method includes an imaging system obtaining a plurality of images of an object of interest with each image obtained at a different focus of the imaging system. A processor then determines image property values of each image of the plurality of images and determines an image quality metric from each image of the plurality of images. The processor then compares the image quality metric to a reference metric and determines, based on the comparison, if a focus drift has occurred, and further adjusts a focus of the imaging system if a focus drift has occurred.

Abstract: A method for correcting focus drift of an imaging system. The method includes an imaging system obtaining a plurality of images of an object of interest with each image obtained at a different focus of the imaging system. A processor then determines image property values of each image of the plurality of images and determines an image quality metric from each image of the plurality of images. The processor then compares the image quality metric to a reference metric and determines, based on the comparison, if a focus drift has occurred, and further adjusts a focus of the imaging system if a focus drift has occurred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for differentiating focus drift of an imaging system from position changes of an object of interest. The method includes obtaining an image of an object of interest and identifying a region of interest in the image, wherein the region of interest contains an indicia indicative of the object of interest. The processor determines an image quality of the image and analyzes the indicia and determines a pixel measurement of the indicia. The processor then compares the pixel measurement of the indicia to a reference pixel measurement. Based on the comparison, the processor determines that the image quality of the image results either from a difference in a distance of the object from the imaging system or from focusing drift of the imaging system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers designed to operate in an environment with densely packed barcodes. In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader that includes an imaging assembly operable to capture image frames; an aiming light assembly operable to emit an aiming light; and a controller configured to: decode a barcode within a decode frame image captured by the imaging assembly; upon decoding the barcode within the decode frame image, cause a capture of a picklist frame image; and report the barcode to an external host upon at least some overlap between a location of the barcode within the decode frame image and the location of the at least a portion of the aiming light pattern in the picklist frame image.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader that includes: a first imaging assembly configured to capture a first image; a second imaging assembly positioned relative to the first imaging assembly and configured to capture a second image; and a controller communicatively coupled to the first imaging assembly and the second imaging assembly. The controller is configured to: calculate a first contrast level within a first region within the first image; calculate a second contrast level within a second region within the second image; execute a first barcode-decode operation on the first image when the first contrast level is greater than the second contrast level; and execute the first barcode-decode operation on the second image when the second contrast level is greater than the first contrast level.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader that includes: a first imaging assembly configured to capture a first image; a second imaging assembly positioned relative to the first imaging assembly and configured to capture a second image; and a controller communicatively coupled to the first imaging assembly and the second imaging assembly. The controller is configured to: calculate a first contrast level within a first region within the first image; calculate a second contrast level within a second region within the second image; execute a first barcode-decode operation on the first image when the first contrast level is greater than the second contrast level; and execute the first barcode-decode operation on the second image when the second contrast level is greater than the first contrast level.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers designed to operate in an environment with densely packed barcodes. In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader that includes an imaging assembly operable to capture image frames; an aiming light assembly operable to emit an aiming light; and a controller configured to: decode a barcode within a decode frame image captured by the imaging assembly; upon decoding the barcode within the decode frame image, cause a capture of a picklist frame image; and report the barcode to an external host upon at least some overlap between a location of the barcode within the decode frame image and the location of the at least a portion of the aiming light pattern in the picklist frame image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers having multiple linear image sensors. In an embodiment, a barcode reader includes a first optical assembly including a first linear imaging sensor, a second optical assembly including a second linear imaging sensor, and a controller connected configured to: simultaneously cause both of the first linear imaging sensor and the second linear imaging sensor to respectively capture light from a first FOV and a second FOV for a predetermined amount of time, and simultaneously capture a first output signal from the first linear imaging sensor and a second output signal from the second linear imaging sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers having multiple linear image sensors. In an embodiment, a barcode reader includes a first optical assembly including a first linear imaging sensor, a second optical assembly including a second linear imaging sensor, and a controller connected configured to: simultaneously cause both of the first linear imaging sensor and the second linear imaging sensor to respectively capture light from a first FOV and a second FOV for a predetermined amount of time, and simultaneously capture a first output signal from the first linear imaging sensor and a second output signal from the second linear imaging sensor.

Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging illuminated targets to be read over a range of working distances. A range finder determines a distance to a target. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. At least one of the imagers is selected based on the determined distance and/or the determined light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain of the selected imager is set to a predetermined value, and an illumination level is determined, also based on the determined light intensity level and/or the determined distance. The selected imager, which has been set with the predetermined value, captures an image of the target, which has been illuminated at the illumination light level.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers having multiple linear image sensors. In an embodiment, a barcode reader includes a first optical assembly including a first linear imaging sensor, a second optical assembly including a second linear imaging sensor, and a controller connected configured to: simultaneously cause both of the first linear imaging sensor and the second linear imaging sensor to respectively capture light from a first FOV and a second FOV for a predetermined amount of time, and simultaneously capture a first output signal from the first linear imaging sensor and a second output signal from the second linear imaging sensor.

Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging illuminated targets to be read over a range of working distances. A range finder determines a distance to a target. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. At least one of the imagers is selected based on the determined distance and/or the determined light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain of the selected imager is set to a predetermined value, and an illumination level is determined, also based on the determined light intensity level and/or the determined distance. The selected imager, which has been set with the predetermined value, captures an image of the target, which has been illuminated at the illumination light level.

Abstract: A distance to a target to be read by image capture over a range of working distances is determined by directing an aiming light spot along an aiming axis to the target, and by capturing a first image of the target containing the aiming light spot, and by capturing a second image of the target without the aiming light spot. Each image is captured in a frame over a field of view having an imaging axis offset from the aiming axis. An image pre-processor compares first image data from the first image with second image data from the second image over a common fractional region of both frames to obtain a position of the aiming light spot in the first image, and determines the distance to the target based on the position of the aiming light spot in the first image.

Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging illuminated targets to be read over a range of working distances. A range finder determines a distance to a target. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. At least one of the imagers is selected based on the determined distance and/or the determined light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain of the selected imager is set to a predetermined value, and an illumination level is determined, also based on the determined light intensity level and/or the determined distance. The selected imager, which has been set with the predetermined value, captures an image of the target, which has been illuminated at the illumination light level.

Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging targets to be read over a range of working distances. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain values of the default imager are set to predetermined values based on the determined light intensity level. If the target is not decoded by the default imager, then the exposure and/or gain values of another imager are set to predetermined values based on the exposure and/or gain values that were previously set for the default imager.